Ma Ying-jeou, a former leader of Taiwan, will lead a group of students to attend the 17th Straits Forum, the largest annual cross-Strait grassroots exchange event, which will be held in Xiamen in East China's Fujian province this weekend.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, welcomed Ma, who was also former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, to visit Fujian and Gansu provinces from June 14 to 27.

Zhu said that the current situation in the Taiwan Strait is complex and severe, but cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation cannot be stopped, interrupted or reduced.

"We always welcome people from all walks of life in Taiwan and the vast number of Taiwan compatriots to visit and exchange with the mainland," she said.

Ma's itinerary will include a visit to Dunhuang in Gansu to participate in a cross-Strait cultural event promoting Chinese heritage, and another to explore the Hexi Corridor and experience the ancient Silk Road. The group will also attend a memorial ceremony for Fuxi, the legendary ancestor of Chinese civilization, in Gansu.

Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the island-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, said it's important to have communication and exchanges due to the unprecedented severity of the current cross-Strait situation, and Ma is committed to doing everything possible to promote cross-Strait exchanges to convey the heartfelt desire for communication among people.

Over the past two years, Ma has led Taiwan students on three visits to the mainland and has also extended invitations to groups of teachers and students from mainland universities to visit Taiwan twice.